Transfer Rumour: Manchester United concede in race with Manchester City to sign Lionel Messi

If Messi does leave Barcelona, he’ll most likely join manager Pep Guardiola at Manchester City

Manchester United have reportedly conceded defeat, in the race for the signature of superstar, Lionel Messi, to rivals and neighbours Manchester City. The Argentine’s current contract at Barcelona runs until 2018, with reports in the Spanish press claiming the Argentine superstar will reject a new contract with the Catalan giants.

With reports and rumours setting the football world ablaze, Messi is heavily linked with a move to the Premier League. Premier League giants such as Manchester United, City and Chelsea, as well as clubs in China and the United States, are all interested in securing the services of one of the greatest players to have ever graced the game.

With Guardiola at the helm at City, backed by former Barcelona director of football Txiki Begiristain, the current sporting director at City, United are believed to have conceded defeat in their pursuit of Messi. Their understanding of the situation means City are in pole position to sign the player, if he fails to extend his contract with Barcelona..

The Argentinian ace’s current contract with Barcelona runs until 2018 but the club and their officials remain confident about securing the services of the Messi post-2018, insisting the Argentine will retire at Barcelona. The club will enter into contract negotiations with Messi after signing Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to new contracts; Messi will be offered a contract that would again make him the best-paid player in the world.

Having secured Neymar’s contract extension earlier this year, Barcelona will be anxious to complete deals for their stars and keep them at the Catalan club for the foreseeable future.

Messi recently protested with the entire Argentinian squad, and said that the national team will boycott the press due to the constant trivialised stories and accusations cooked up by the media against the Argentinan national team.

As Barcelona, look set to take on Malaga at the weekend, Messi claims he is firmly concentrated and focused on the task at hand with the El Classico also looming on the horizon. A Barcelona player for the next two seasons, Messi could be on his way out of Spain and Barcelona, looking for new pastures to ply his trade, once his current contract runs out in 2018.